Computing HW Engineer

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology.

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Applied Materials' PDC (Process Diagnostics and Control) division designs and manufactures advanced semiconductor inspection and metrology tools. Each tool is paired with a dedicated, purpose-built computing platform -comprising servers, storage, and networking elements - that drives the tool's real-time processing, data acquisition, and control workloads. These platforms are self-contained computing environments, engineered specifically for each tool family and deployed in semiconductor fab conditions worldwide.

Computing HW Engineer is responsible for defining and delivering the next generation of computing platforms for PDC tools. The role begins with a High Level Design (HLD) from R&D -defining what the software and algorithms require in terms of compute power, memory, storage throughput, and network bandwidth - and ends with a fully productized, manufacturing-ready computing platform. Everything in between is owned by this role.

This is a senior pivot role. The Computing HW Engineer drives a structured review process (KO → PDR → CDR → DVR → FDR → ECO), manages technical interfaces with R&D, software, procurement, manufacturing, and external vendors, and serves as the computing hardware authority for new tool development programs.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Definition & Vendor Selection

• Receive and analyze HLD documents from R&D computing architecture; translate computational requirements into hardware specifications.

• Research and evaluate computing platform solutions from leading vendors, identifying configurations that meet performance, reliability, power, and form-factor requirements.

• Define platform specifications: CPU generation and configuration, memory capacity and speed, storage topology (NVMe, SAS/SATA, RAID), networking (Ethernet, InfiniBand, fiber), and GPU/AI accelerator integration where required.

• Lead vendor engagement: issue RFQs, conduct technical reviews with vendor platform architects, and negotiate platform customization requirements.

NPI Process Execution

• Drive the full structured NPI review cycle from Kickoff (KO) through PDR, CDR, DVR, FDR, and ECO -owning the technical content and scheduling of each gate.

• Define and manage the Bill of Materials (BOM) for new computing platforms, ensuring accuracy and configuration control throughout the development process.

• Author technical deliverables at each gate: requirements documents, platform selection rationale, validation test plans, and manufacturing transfer packages.

• Identify and resolve technical obstacles that could delay the program schedule; escalate risks early and propose mitigation strategies.

Validation & Productization

• Design and execute hardware validation plans: performance benchmarking, stress testing, thermal characterization, and compatibility validation with the tool's software stack.

• Collaborate with R&D and software teams to verify driver compatibility, BIOS/firmware configuration, and OS/application performance on the selected platform.

• Lead the transition of validated platforms from engineering to manufacturing, including production BOM release and manufacturing documentation.

• Support the manufacturing team during initial production builds and resolve any hardware-related integration issues.

Cross-Functional Interface Management

• Collaborate with engineering peers across multiple disciplines -Electronics, Mechanics, Safety, and others -to ensure the computing platform integrates cleanly into the overall tool design.

• Serve as the technical interface with procurement for component sourcing, lead time management, and supply chain risk mitigation.

• Engage with external integrators and customer sites as needed to support platform integration and field validation activities.

• Coordinate with the SPI team to ensure that NPI platform decisions account for long-term serviceability and component lifecycle.

Qualifications

Required

• BSc or BA in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with computing hardware platforms: a deep working knowledge of x86 server architecture, CPU/memory/storage configuration, RAID design, networking hardware, and GPU/accelerator integration.

• Proven ability to define hardware specifications from functional requirements -translating software workload descriptions into server configuration decisions.

• Experience engaging with computing hardware vendors in a technical capacity: evaluating platforms, understanding vendor roadmaps, and customizing off-the-shelf configurations.

• Familiarity with structured engineering processes (PDR/CDR or equivalent design review gates) in a hardware development or productization context.

• Strong BOM management discipline; experience maintaining configuration-controlled hardware specifications.

• Fluent English -written and verbal -required for vendor engagement, cross-site collaboration, and technical documentation.

• Structured, analytical approach to technical decision-making; able to present hardware tradeoff analysis clearly to both engineering and management audiences.

Preferred

• Background in semiconductor equipment, defense computing systems, data center engineering, or high-tech industrial computing environments.

• Experience with GPU/AI accelerator integration (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Gaudi) in server platforms.

• Familiarity with PLM and BOM management tools (TeamCenter, Agile PLM, or equivalent).

• Technical background in computing, communications, intelligence systems, or airborne computing - highly relevant.

• Experience with hardware qualification and validation methodologies (performance benchmarking, thermal testing, reliability testing).

• Exposure to manufacturing transfer and production ramp activities for hardware products.

Additional Information

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Relocation Eligible:

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.